Spurs ready for the undercover cup

Tottenham and Blackburn are set to make history on Sunday by becoming the first teams to contest a major domestic final under cover.

The Football League announced today that with rain forecast for Sunday afternoon the retractable roof at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium is likely to be closed.

Last year's Charity Shield between Liverpool and Manchester United was played indoors but the Worthington Cup Final will be the first major showpiece match to be played under a roof in this country.

Football League spokesman John Nagle said: "If it is felt to be in the best interests of the game and spectator comfort we will close the roof.

"However, for safety reasons we cannot begin closing it once spectators have entered the stadium, therefore a decision will be made at 11.30 in the morning.

"If it is raining at the time or if rain is forecast we will have the roof closed."

Meanwhile, Glenn Hoddle hinted today that he will be at Spurs for longer than his current five-year deal. The manager also confirmed Spurs would be offering new deals to a number of their emerging young stars.

Hoddle will be talking to Simon Davies, Ledley King, Anthony Gardner and Matthew Etherington about tying them down to longer contracts after Sunday's final. Hoddle, in an exclusive interview with Standard Sport, expressed some regrets that he had moved on too soon from his previous jobs.

"This time I'm staying," he said. "I'm not just putting in the foundations and moving on, which has been the pattern to date. If there's going to be some success at Spurs I want to be part of it."

Davies is the first of Hoddle's crop of outstanding young players to be offered a new contract.

The 22-year-old midfielder has two years remaining but Hoddle is keen to secure him for at least the next four years.

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